What Causes Happiness

What Causes Happiness? Genes

Unfortunately part of what causes happiness is our genetics.
Studies on twins have shown that identical twins raised apart are very
similar in their general level of happiness. Some Research suggests
that there is a happiness set point that most of us return to, and that
set point is different for each person. The good news is that studies on
fraternal twins show that there is almost no correlation in happiness!
This means that a portion of happiness is not predetermined and we can
perhaps influence our happiness level by what we do.

What Causes Happiness? Neuroplasticity

Recent studies in the plasticity of the brain, have suggested
that it is much more amenable to change than we once thought. Not only
can the brain rewire neural pathways and change the way it functions but
parts of the brain can grow or shrink depending on its use. For
example using MRI’s scientists have been able to show that monk’s who
engage in loving kindness (compassion based) meditation have brains that
are different from people who have just started this practice. The
brain activity in these monks’ brains is highly charged and developed in
areas that deal with compassion and happiness. These monks prove that
we can train our brains to be happier in this way. Perhaps we can do
this in other ways as well. The ability of our brain to change in this
way is called neuroplasticity. It has recently revolutionized our
understanding of the brain.

What Causes Happiness? Optimism

There is no question that optimism is a quality that causes
happiness, and all the research points to this. Optimism is a
hopefulness and confidence that things will work out. Optimism requires
a belief in the positive and the good of people and the universe.
Optimism helps us to move on from the past, and not fear the future.
This characteristic of being optimistic makes us resilient in the face
of so many things that cause depression. Optimism is not denial.
Denial is unconsciously pretending reality isn’t real. Optimism is
choosing the positive when you are able, realistically to do so.

Negative experiences can certainly cause people to be
pessimistic. It is difficult to teach clients who have had only
negative experiences with the world to be optimistic. However, it is
possible, because there is just as much evidence of the positive as
there is of the negative. Shifting their focus can help them to see
things through a different lens. It also helps when they have a
corrective experience. For example, if I person has had a terrible
relationship, and then has a wonderful loving one, they can heal from
the negative impact of the initial one, and learn that relationships can
be safe. The neuroplasticity research shows us that the brain changes
in response to these experiences of safety, just as it does in response
to feelings of danger.

In therapy, when working with people who are depressed , we often
will examine the thoughts that are negativistic and pessimistic. In
fact, much of Cognitive Behavioral therapy, the most well researched
therapy , hinges on this technique. We challenge and teach clients that
this way of thinking sabotages happiness. If all we are learning about
neruroplasticity is true, however, this may be the tip of the iceberg.
There may be many things we can do in therapy to impact a person’s level
of happiness.

What Causes Happiness? Why are People Pessimistic?

Why not choose to positive and hopeful if you can? I can’t think
of a good reason. However, my work with clients has shown me people who
are pessimistic automatically think negatively, and do not realize or
recognize they are doing it. If they became aware of it could they
change it?

With a lot of work yes. However, None of these ideas about
increasing happiness suggest it can be done quickly. If takes effort and
work and consistent challenging of our habits and thoughts.

My experience tells me one of the reasons people are pessimistic
is because they believe it will protect them from harm. Being
pessimistic can protect us from disappointment, getting let down or
getting taking advantage of. However, it can also prevent us from
feeling happiness and joy. It can cause us to feel less satisfied in our
relationships and jobs and with ourselves.

This is an example of another mistake we make on our road to
happiness. We think that being negative will lead to less suffering. We
believe that it will protect us from all those terrible emotions, when
in fact it does the opposite. It makes us unhealthy, unhappy, and
unpleasant to be around. Much of this thinking is on a level we are not
even fully aware of. If we can learn to be more in tune to our thoughts
and assumptions, we can work on challenging and changing them. Often
when you are sick and tired of being unhappy, it’s the best time to do
this kind of work.

Martin Seligman, who originally coined the term learned
helplessness has more recently been devoting himself to the study of
positive psychology, or how to be happier. If you can learn to be
helpless, by being surrounded by hopelessness, you can learn to be
positive as well. Seligman has done a great deal of work on optimism.

He has also created virtually a new branch of psychology termed
Positive psychology. It is the study of strengths and resiliency rather
than weaknesses. Seligman looked across cultures and across time to
develop a list of strengths such as : wisdom/knowledge, courage,
humanity, justice, temperance, and transcendence. Each of these
strengths has substregnths. He believes these traits are all related to
happiness. He believes we can develop them.

What Causes Happiness: Values and Spirituality

There is also a spiritual, but not necessarily religious
component to happiness. People who are happy have a commitment to
something larger than themselves, and they have some kind of a faith
that helps sustain them. The commitment to the core values that Seligman
discovered are core values and virtues that we consider good and
meaningful. These concepts are often part of a spiritual frame work.

What Causes Happiness: True Happiness

True happiness must be differentiating from happiness that is
related to drug or alcohol use, or some form of mental illness. We also
generally don’t consider a person who derives pleasure from behavior
that is morally wrong (such as killing) to be a truly happy person. A
discussion of what causes happiness would not be complete without a
discussion of virtues and values and the spiritual perspective.

Other factors which contribute to happiness, such as marriage and
family, community and social connectedness, and health will be explored
on other pages on the menu. Pages linked directly here will discuss the
values and traits that are associated with happiness.
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Feel free to email me at kristenlynnmcclure@gmail.com